Wrestling: Cougars, 'Liners, Pats, Terriers win titles

HAMPTON -- Kittatinny's wrestling team moved into some rarefied air on Friday night -- a fact that did not escape longtime coach John Gill, who normally doesn't pay attention to the fabulous numbers his program has put up over his 36 seasons.

But a 52-12 victory over Pompton Lakes in the North 1, Group 1 final was another proud moment, as the Cougars collected their 20th sectional championship to advance to the Group 1 semifinals on Sunday at Toms River North High School. The only other schools to win at least 20  -- Paulsboro (36), Phillipsburg (35), High Point (24), Camden Catholic and Roselle Park (22) and Hunterdon Central (20).

"It feels good," Gill said of winning his 20th sectional title. "It's good to join some of the elite programs in the state. I'm very proud of the kids."

Kittatinny (17-1) now sets its sights on a ninth state championship and first since winning the Group 1 title in 2008. The Cougars, whose other titles were in Group 2 -- 1996, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05 and '06, will face Point Pleasant Beach in one semifinal on Sunday, while 29-time champion Paulsboro battles Cedar Grove on the adjacent mat at 9 a.m. The winners will meet for the Group 1 title at 5 p.m.

Paulsboro won its last Group 1 title in 2011 -- a dominating 37-25 win over Kittatinny. Gill was a bit disappointed that when his '08 team won Group 1, it defeated Collingswood in the final, instead of getting the chance to end Paulsboro's run of 26 straight, which ended with a loss to Collingswood in the South Jersey, Group 1 final. The Cougars won't even get a crack at Bound Brook, which had won the last four Group 1 titles, as the Crusaders fell to Cedar Grove in the North 2, Group 1 final on Friday night.

"I'm excited. The kids remember that loss to Paulsboro [in 2011]," Gill said. "I liked what I saw tonight. Hopefully, we can keep it going for two more matches."

Kittatinny senior Taylor Molfetto, who has been wrestling real well of late, scored a key 8-2 win over Nico Negrini at 160 pounds in the opening bout that put Pompton Lakes in an early hole. Cardinals coach Scott Mahoney, whose team captured the program's first sectional title last year, dropped Negrini down a weight in the hopes of winning that matchup because Kittatinny was even more of a heavy favorite with straight up lineups.

"They beat us in about 90 percent of the 50-50 positions," said Mahoney, who also saw his team drop what looked like tossups at 106 and 120. "They were better at the little things. We're a young team -- I start eight freshmen and sophomores. [Nico's] bout was a tough match, he's wrestling a little banged up right now, but that's OK. We were just too young in spots."

Pins by Josh Klimek (170) and Zach Mafaro (182) pushed Kittatinny out to a 15-0 lead before freshman Frankie Negrini won a tight 2-1 decision at 195 to start a run of three straight wins for Pompton Lakes, which trailed, 15-12, after a pin by Region 1 qualifier Drew Flynn (220) and a 4-2 decision by Nick Sanders (285).

But that's as close as it got as freshman Derek Molfetto's 4-2 win at 106 all but ended any chance of what would have a monumental comeback. Senior Nick Klinger's pin at 132 gave Kittatinny an insurmountable 39-12 lead with three bouts left.

The only remaining drama centered around 138, where Kittatinny's Austin Scrivani dominated previously unbeaten Chris Grecco in a 16-5 major at 138 pounds in what could have been a preview of the Region 1 final in two weeks. Scrivani (26-1) racked up three takedowns and two back points in the first period and put Grecco (32-1) on his back again in the second period before converting a fifth and final takedown in the third.

Both coaches were happy to make that one happy, regardless of the team score.

"Some times a loss like that resets the clock a bit," Mahoney said. "We haven't run [Grecco] from anyone all year. He'll have the chance to wrestle two state qualifiers, as we should see [Pequannock's] Alex Zangrilli in the [District 4 Tournament next weekend]."

"We want those matchups," Gill said. "You take a risk giving away a region seed, but we don't care. That was the marquee matchup. Austin looked good."

KITTATINNY 52, POMPTON LAKES 12
160 -- Sr. Taylor Molfetto (18-6), K, d. Jr. Nico Negrini (19-6), 8-2.
170 -- Jr. Josh Klimek (22-5), K, p. So. Nate Tucker (1-13), 1:20.
182 -- Fr. Zach Mafaro (21-5), K, p. So. Bishov Yacoub (4-3), 1:03.
195 -- Fr. Frankie Negrini (22-10), PL, d. Sr. Luke DeGroat (12-14), 2-1.
220 -- So. Drew Flynn (28-4), PL, p. Sr. Nick Simpson (12-11), 2:54.
285 -- Sr. Nick Sanders (24-7), PL, d. Sr. Griffin Waldron (6-8), 4-2.
106 -- Fr. Derek Molfetto (10-15), K, d. So. Brian Fego (15-18), 4-2.
113 -- Jr. Mark DiGeronimo (20-5), K, p. Fr. Nick Secor (13-17), 3:16.
120 -- So. Perry Maio (18-9), K, d. So. Justin Juchnewich (20-13), 3-0.
126 -- So. Calvin Brook (17-9), K, p. Jr. Luis Herrera (10-20), 1:38.
132 -- Sr. Nick Klinger (26-2), K, p. So. Logan Mahoney (15-10), 2:19.
138 -- Sr. Austin Scrivani (26-1), K, md. Jr. Chris Grecco (32-1), 16-5.
145 -- Jr. Kasey Hotz (2-0), K, p. So. Heri Herrera (8-11), :55.
152 -- Jr. Dylan Minter (16-9), K, d. Jr. Sal Puglisi (26-6), 6-3.
Records -- Pompton Lakes 16-9; Kittatinny 17-1.

North 2, Group 4

Phillipsburg 45, Middletown North 16 -- Junior Robert Melise posted a 4-1 win over Chad Fresnock in the marquee bout at 220 pounds as the Stateliners cruised to their 35th sectional title in the 37-year history of the sectional tournaments. Melise (29-2), who finished fifth in the state last season at 220, handed Freshnock (19-1), a Region 6 champ, his first loss of the season. P'burg (15-3) senior DJ Wissing also scored a 5-2 win over Nicholas Cofone in a good matchup at 152. The Stateliners, who are seeking the program's 20th state title and its third straight in Group 4, will face Jackson Memorial in the Group 4 semifinals on Sunday.

145 -- Brian Meyer, P, tf. Jacob Anderson, 24-8, 4:52.
152 -- DJ Wissing, P, d. Nicholas Cofone, 5-2.
160 -- Chris Ruiz, P, d. Brian Winz, 11-7.
170 -- Tom Anderson, MN, p. Jason Barna, :47.
182 -- Anthony Vetrano, MN, md. Dan Fisher, 10-1.
195 -- Drew Horun, P, tf. Brian Ruane, 24-9, 4:47.
220 -- Robert Melise, P, d. Chad Freshnock, 4-1.
285 -- Kyle Nothnagel, P, md. Ray Nelson, 11-0.
106 -- Cullen Day, P, md. Jonathan Provenzano, 16-3.
113 -- Kyle Markus, P, forfeit.
120 -- Tom Kosar, P, d. Sean Deering, 6-5.
126 -- Kyle Tino, P, p. Nate Pujols, 2:51.
132 -- Tyler Agans, P, d. Joe Cavanagh, 10-3.
138 -- Stanley Wojdylak, MN, forfeit.

Central Jersey, Group 2

Delaware Valley 30, Raritan 29 -- Add another chapter to one of the most storied postseason rivalries as the Terriers (19-4) captured their second straight sectional title and the program's 16th overall -- on Criteria F (most technical falls). Raritan (17-5) also dropped a 31-30 decision to Del Val in last year's title matchup. Junior Rhys Zigich came up big with a 4-3 win at 145 pounds as the Terriers raced out to a 26-4 lead through seven bouts. But the Rockets stormed back by winning six of the next seven, including key wins at 220, 106 and 120. Matt Kolonia's technical fall win in the opening bout at 138 proved to be the difference. Del Val will face Collingswood in one of the Group 2 semifinals on Sunday, while Lenape Valley will take on Emerson-Park Ridge. The winners will meet at 5 p.m. for the title. Del Val is seeking its eighth overall and first since 1999.

138 -- Matt Kolonia, DV, tf. Andrew Bohal, 16-1, 4:57.
145 -- Rhys Zigich, DV, d. Anthony Aquilano, 4-3.
152 -- Chase Bauberger, DV, d. Vito Aleo, 6-4.
160 -- Nicholas Bohal, R, md. Tanner McLaughlin, 14-4.
170 -- Sean Lessig, DV, d. Adam Bryant, 8-1.
182 -- Kyle Lightner, DV, p. Joseph Stabile, 1:31.
195 -- Kyle Schlittler, DV, p. Ryan Dickens, 3:01.
220 -- Ethan Wolf, R, p. Joe Pandy, 5:12.
285 -- Aaron Daniels, R, md. Zach LaDuca, 13-4.
106 -- Charles Barrale, R, d. Dylan Uderman, 13-6.
113 -- AJ DeRosa, DV, d. Christian Sookdeo, 6-1.
120 -- Aaron Erven, R, d. Vito Intili, 6-4.
126 -- Russell Benson, R, p. Kyle Refalvy, 2:34.
132 -- James VanFechtmann, R, d. Jake Moore, 4-2.

North 2, Group 2

Lenape Valley 45, Caldwell 34 -- Senior Ralph Hall sealed it with a pin in the final bout at 285 pounds as the Patriots (14-9) won their second straight sectional title and sixth overall. Coach Doug Vetter's team, which has been shorthanded due to injuries most of the season, goes back-to-back after winning the North 1 title last season. It's the first time the program has won consecutive titles since 1998-99. It's only other championship was in 1985. Lenape Valley will square off against top-seeded Emerson-Park Ridge, which beat High Point, 44-19, in the North 1 final, in one Group 2 semifinal on Sunday, while Delaware Valley faces Collingswood in the other at 11:30 a.m. Lenape Valley topped Del Val, 36-30, in last year's Group 2 semifinals.

106 -- Justin Haws, LV, p. Matthew Driggs, 1:22.
113 -- Jacob Falleni, LV, p. Matthew Goldbach, 2:18.
120 -- Zach Merkey, LV, forfeit.
126 -- Kyle Maw, C, p. Neil Kelly, 3:26.
132 -- Ray Smaha, LV, p. Thomas Rodgers, 2:11.
138 -- Gerald Jones, C, p. Aaron Arzon, 2:49.
145 -- Nick Palumbo, LV, p. Dan Fano, 3:20.
152 -- Dean Caravela, C, p, Anthony DeOliveira, 1:49.
160 -- Mike Katz, LV, d. Kyle Schaffer, 9-2.
170 -- Christian Dalla Riva, C, p. Kyle Dellosso, 1:16.
182 -- Sam Palumbo, LV, p. Dante Cappozzoli, 1:32.
195 -- Ryan Schaffer, C, p. Scott Prior, 1:12.
220 -- Matthew Maddaloni, C, md. Dylon Frazier, 9-1.
285 -- Ralph Hall, LV, p. John Murphy, 1:02.